Heel cushion



J. NABOKIN ay 9, i939.

HEELl CUSHION Filed Oct. 29, 1937 ATTORNEY lNvENTo R Jacob Adbolirz willi/A Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-fics 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a heel cushion.

The invention has for an object the construction of a heel cushion which is characterized by the fact that an annular sheet member is secured to the inner sole of a shoe at the heel portion thereof, and a conical spiral spring is disposed.l

' ment of the invention in which parts adjacent the conical spiral spring are formed with recesses into which portions of the spring may rest.

Still further lthel invention proposes an arrangement by which the spring may be adjusted to vary its resiliency.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a bottom elevational view of an inner sole for a shoe and a heel cushion applied thereto according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevational view of another inner sole with a heel cushion constructed according to another embodiment of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom elevational View of another inner sole with another heel cushion applied thereto, constructed according to a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig, 7 is a perspective view of a conical spiral spring used in the heel cushion.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a shoe with a heel cushion applied thereto constructed according to this invention.

In Figs. l and 2 an inner sole is illustrated composed of .adjacent layers of material I0 and (Cl. Sti-37) II secured together along their edges by lines of stitches i2. The layer Ill at the heel portion is formed with a circular opening I3 fo-rming a recess. An annular sheet member I4 is disposed over this recess .and holds down a conical spiral spring I5. The annular member I4 has a central opening I6 through which the inner turn I5, (see Fig. l) of the conical spiral spring is Viewable and accessible. The annular sheet member lli is secured by adhesive around its periphery to the inner sole.

The conical spiral spring I5 will have a tendency to bow out the heel portion of the sole. This is particularly true when the inner sole with the .attached cushion is mounted within aA l5 shoe. When desired the conical spring I5 may be removed merely by gripping the inner turn thereof and then screwing it around and around to screw it out through the opening I6. As illustrated in Fig. 1, it is necessary that the spring be turned clockwise to screw it out. In a similar manner the spring, or a different spring of'dif-V ferent resilient characteristics, may be screwed into place.

In Figs. 3 and 4 another embodiment of the invention has been illustrated which is characterized by the fact that an annular sheet member 24 of soft leather material or similar material is attached along a peripheral portion to an inner sole 20. 'This inner sole is made from one layer of material. A conical spiral spring 25 is disposed between the annular member 24 at the sole 2li. Since the spring 25 is rested on one face of the sole 20, the annular member 24 must have its central portion puckered out 35 to form a compartment 23 in which the spring is disposed. The sole 20 is shown formed with a plurality of ventilation openings 2|.

When this sole with the heel cushion is mounted in a shoe it will have the tendency of oushion- 0 ing ones heel. When desired, the spring 25 may be removed by screwing it out through the central opening 25 of the annular member 24.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a modication of the invention has been disclosed which is characterized by the fact that there is an arrangement to vary the resilient action of the conical spring. In this form of the invention there is an inner sole 30 which has an annular sheet member 34 secured on the heel portion thereof by a line of stitches 31 which extend along the edge portion thereof through a distance of approximately The annular member 34 serves to hold down the conical spiral spring 35. The annular member 34 is formed with a central opening 36 through which the inner coil of the spring is accessible.

The outer end 35a of the spring is engageable in a looped element 38 which is stationarily mounted relative to the sole and the annular member 34. Specifically, the loop member 38 is attached upon the annular member 34. The outer end portion 35El of the spring 35 passes through this loop member. In order to adjust the spring so that it has a stiffer action it is merely necessary that the spring 35 be gripped by the inner coil and turned anti-clockwise relative to Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5 there are four active coils between the loop 38 and the end of the spring 35 and if the spring is rotated through 180 anti-clockwise the spring will be stiffer in that there will be only three and one-half active coils between the loop 38 and the end of the spring 35.

In Figs. '7 and 8 a detailed View has been shown of a conical spiral spring of the type used in the heel cushion of the invention. This spring in Fig. 7 is shown in its free condition. Fig, 8 indicates that the spring comprises an interior spring wire 45a and an exterior rubber covering 45h.

In Fig. 9 a still further modiiied form of the invention has been shown in which a shoe upper is shown attached to a shoe heel 5I. Within the shoe upper there is an inner sole 52, and an outer sole 53. A recess 54 is formed in the top of the heel 5I and Within this recess there is a conical spiral spring 55. This spring exerts upward pressure upon the heel portions of the soles 52 and 53 and so produce a cushioning effect for ones heel when rested thereon.

In the construction shown in Fig, 9 there is a very weak cushioning effect, but nevertheless there is a cushioning effect. When Weight is placed on the heel the layers 52 and 53 will be bowed downwards and When the pressure is released the spring 55 Will return the layers to their normal position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modcations coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: y Y

1. A heel cushion, an inner sole, an annular sheet member secured along its outer edge on the inner face of said inner sole, and a conical spiral spring disposed between said sole and said annular sheet member and having its inner coil within the compass of the central opening of said annular member, the inner turn of said conical spiral spring being exposed through the central opening of said annular sheet member.

2. A heel cushion, an inner sole, an annular sheet member secured along its outer edge on the inner face of said inner sole, and a conical spiral spring disposed between said sole and said annular sheet member and having its inner coil within the compass of the central opening of said annular member, said annular sheet member being of soft material to extend over the spring forming a pocket area in which the spring is disposed.

3. A heel cushion, an inner sole, an annular sheet member secured along its outer edge on the inner face of said inner sole, a conical spiral spring disposed between said sole and said annular sheet member and having its inner coil within the compass of the central opening of said annular member; a loop element stationarily mounted relative to said sole and said member. and the end portion of the outer coil of said spring being extended through said loop element.

JACOB' NABOIQN. 

